The Missing Piece in Most Bullpen Sessions: A Real Plan
One of the biggest issues I see in pitching development today is not arm strength, pitch design, or workload management. It is the lack of a clear plan going into bullpen sessions.
This is not about having a pitch count.
It is about having a specific focus for what you are trying to accomplish in that bullpen.
Most pitchers today understand how to build up during the offseason. They know how to prepare their arm for bullpens, live outings, and eventually competition. Where things tend to break down is during the bullpen itself. Focus drifts. Intent becomes unclear. The session turns into simply throwing rather than purposeful work.
That is where development stalls.
Write the Plan Before You Pick Up the Ball
The simplest way to maintain focus is to write down your plan before the session starts.
The first question you should answer is this:
Are you working over the rubber or over the plate today?
This decision alone should dictate how the entire bullpen unfolds.
Working Over the Rubber: Delivery Comes First
If the plan for the day is to work over the rubber, the focus must stay on the delivery.
This is where you are dialing in movement patterns, arm path, timing, and sequencing.
When working over the rubber, the bullpen is delivery based, not results based. That means you cannot get caught up in pitch movement, shapes, or advanced metrics for that session.
Your feedback comes from how your body moves, not what the ball does.
That does not mean the results over the plate are irrelevant. If you are consistently missing the strike zone, that is valuable information. It is an immediate signal that something in the delivery is off. Even then, the solution stays rooted in mechanics, not pitch characteristics.
The priority never shifts.
Working Over the Plate: Command Before Shape
If the plan for the day is to work over the plate, the order of operations matters.
Command always comes first.
Start by owning the strike zone, especially with glove side fastballs. Establishing command creates the foundation for everything that follows. Once you are consistently in the zone, working on movement and pitch shapes becomes far more productive and honest.
Too many pitchers try to chase shape before they can command the baseball. That approach works against development.
Be Honest With the Data
When working on pitch shapes, honesty is critical.
If a pitch misses the strike zone by a foot or more, do not evaluate its movement or metrics. Data collected that far away from the zone can be misleading. Pitch characteristics only matter when the ball is in or very near the strike zone.
Evaluate shapes only when the pitch has a chance to get a hitter out.
Protect the Arm Slot
One of the most overlooked aspects of pitch design work is arm slot consistency.
Chasing movement by significantly altering arm slot or release point may create the shape you want in the short term, but it often comes at a cost. Inconsistent arm slots give hitters a better chance to identify pitches earlier, making your arsenal easier to read.
A consistent release helps maintain deception, improve repeatability, and protect long term performance.
Pitch shapes should emerge from efficient movement, not forced manipulation.
Purpose Drives Progress
Bullpens without a clear focus are wasted opportunities.
Every session should answer one simple question.
What am I trying to improve today?
When pitchers commit to a plan, whether delivery focused or command focused, the bullpen becomes intentional, efficient, and effective. Development accelerates when focus is clear.
Throwing more is not the answer.
Throwing with purpose is.
About the Author
Jimmy Jackson is the current pitching coach at the University of Maryland Baseball, where he is responsible for the development, performance, and long-term health of the Terrapins’ pitching staff. Known for his clarity, honesty, and player-first approach, Jimmy has built a reputation for developing pitchers through intentional planning, efficient movement, and repeatable execution—both in game settings and daily training environments.
Beyond his work on the field, Jimmy is widely respected for his ability to communicate complex pitching concepts in a simple, actionable way. He is a trusted mentor to players and coaches alike and a close personal friend of Dustin Pease. We are grateful for his continued support of the Pease Baseball community and sincerely thank him for contributing his insight and expertise.